Cycle merry-go-round.



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CYCLE MERRY-GD-RUUND.

. (Application filed Feb. 23, 1897.) (No Mode|.)

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UNTTnn STATES PATENT GFFICE.

LUCIEN BARTO, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CYCLE MERRY-GO-ROUND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,393, dated January8, 1901.

Application led February 23, 1897. Serial No. 624,597. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, LUOIEN BARTO, residing at Pittsburg, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulCycle Merry-Go-Round, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in merry-go-rounds, andmore particularly to such a device wherein a number of ordinary cyclesare employed.

One ofthe objects of my invention is to provide a merry-go-round thatwill be adapted for practicing purposes for persons learning to ride themachine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a merry-go-roundcarrying a number of cycles to be operated by the riders.

A further object of the invention is to provide a merry-go-roundconstructed so that the clothes of the rider, particularly those worn byladies, will at all times be protected against injury.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and in combinations and arrangements ofparts more fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is aperspective view showing a tent having the cycle merry-goround withinthe saine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a rearview of two velocipedes, showing the brace-rods and the driving-shaft.Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a sectional viewof the chain, sprocket, and ratchetwheel; and Fig. 6 is a sectional viewon the line 3 3 of Fig. 5.

In carrying out my invention I have shown a tent carrying the centralshaft A and the circular or ring portions B C. An open space D is formedbetween the ring portions to permit of the reception of a numberof'cycles E, these cycles being mounted within this space upon suitableaxles F, which are journaled within the space, as shown in Fig. 5. Ifdesired, this axle can be extended completely through the open circularportion of the apparatus and have its opposite end secured to thecentral shaftI A. If these rods do not eX- tend completely through thering portion, in-

dependent rods or ropes can connect the inner portion of the ring to thecenter tentpole, a loose ring H encircling said pole being usuallyemployed for this purpose.

G indicates a brace-rod supporting the cycles.

A crank-shaft O is journaled in front of each wheel and is provided withthe usual pedals K and with a ratchet-wheel P, rigidly secured to itsintermediate portion. A sprocket-wheel Q is loosely mounted on the shaftadjacent to the ratchet-wheel and is provided with a pawl R, in positionto be engaged by the ratchet-wheel and be rotated as the shaft O isrotated by the pedals. A sprocket-chain J passes over the wheel Q andover the usual sprocket-wheel on the hub of the cycle-wheel to propel itforward; but when the crank-shaft is held stationary-as, for instance,if the clothing should become entangled therein or when all persons donot pedal with the same speed-the rotation of the cycle-Wheel, whichwill always conform to the speed at which the device is being operated,will not be transmitted to the pedalshaft, but the wheel Q, with itspawl R, will rotate independently of the shaft O. In this manner it isimpossible for a few persons to propel the device so rapidly as toimpart an unpleasant or uncomfortable rotation of the pedals to theother riders.

L indicates a handle-bar provided with a brake M, and the usual seat Nis also employed, the same being adapted to be raised and lowered, asmay be desired.

When it is desired to stop or check the movement of the device, thebrakes S are applied to the wheels in the usual manner, the onlydifference being that each brake is adapted to be applied to a wheel byanother person than the one thatis propelling the wheel forward. Thisalso assists in preventing any one or more persons from propelling thedevice forward against the wishes of others, as the brakes can beapplied to the wheels of each person by those riders' sittingimmediately behind them. This construction is secured by making theframe of each cycle substantially of an inverted-N shape, with the seatN at the apex of the two forward uprights or posts and the handles 4 andbrake-lever M at the upper end of the rear IOO post. Each post orupright of the frame is composed of two members which are secured at adistance apart at their lower ends and are joined together at theirupper ends, thus securing greater strength and rigidity.

Part of the wheel and gearing can be covered with wire-netting, ifdesired, for protection to the clothes.

In operation each rider of course propels his own machine.

The device is very simple in construction and composed of a few parts,and the novelty of the arrangement and pleasure to be derived therefromwill be readily apparent.

It is evident that Various slight changes might be made in the forms,constructions, and arrangements of the parts described without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not care to limitmyself to the exact construction herein set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what v axles between the rings,Wheels journaled on said axles, a pedal-shaft in front of each wheelprovided with a ratchet-wheel rigidly secured thereto,a sprocket-Wheelon the shaft provided with a pawl in position to be engaged by theratchet-wheel, a chain from the sprocket-wheel to the Wheel on the axleto the rear of it, a seat and a handle-bar for each Wheel, thehandle-bar being located to the rear of the seat and provided with abrake mechanism.

2. In a merry-go-ronnd, the combination, with a central support, of twoconcentric rings rotatably secured thereto, radially-arranged axlesbetween the rings, wheels journaled on said axles, a pedal-shaft anddriving mechanism for each wheel, an inverted substantially N-shapedframe, for each Wheel, each post of which being formed from two inclined1nembers,joined together at their upper ends, a seat at the apex of theforward posts and brake mechanism at the top of the rear post.

LUCIEN BARTO.

Witnesses:

CHS. HENRY DoERR, DAVID GRIFFITH.

